1 Kings 20:12

12 Benhadad heard this as he and his allies were drinking in their tents. He told his officers to get ready. So they got ready [to attack] the city.

1 Kings 20:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:12

And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message (as he
was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions)
Though it was at noon, or before, ( 1 Kings 20:16 ) , which shows that he and they were addicted to intemperance:

that he said unto his servants;
some of the principal officers of his army:

set yourselves in array;
prepare for battle, betake yourselves to your arms, invest the city at once, and place the engines against it to batter it down:

and they set themselves in array against the city;
besieged it in form, at least prepared for it; for it seems after all that it was not properly done.

1 Kings 20:12 In-Context

10 Then Benhadad sent Ahab the following message: "May the gods strike me dead if there will be enough dust left from Samaria to give a handful to each soldier who follows me."

11 The king of Israel answered, "The saying goes, 'Don't brag about a victory before you have even dressed for battle.'"

12 Benhadad heard this as he and his allies were drinking in their tents. He told his officers to get ready. So they got ready [to attack] the city.

13 Then a prophet came to King Ahab of Israel and said, "This is what the LORD says: Have you seen this large army? I will hand it over to you today. Then you will know that I am the LORD."

14 Ahab asked, "How [will this be done]?" The prophet answered, "This is what the LORD says: by using the young officers of the district governors." "Who will start the battle?" Ahab asked. "You will," the prophet answered.